Summing up 2010

How time flies! My last post was in 2009, no updates in 2010. So this being 1-1-11, I'm gonna start fresh. This will be my resolution - to blog consistently.

2010 has been an eventful year for each and every member of the family. And it also closed the chapter on our lives in Kemaman.

First to go was my son who returned to Singapore in early 2010 to serve his NS (Civil Defence). Anuar initially stayed with his grandparents, but moved to his aunt's place to be nearer his camp. He completed a 6-mth stint to reach a Sergeant's rank and was posted to Bukit Batok Fire Station.

Anis took her brother's place at grandma's when she got a place in Nanyang Polytechnic. She started her Diploma in Visual Communications in April.

Back in Kemaman, Erny decided to return to her village for good, after a 3-year working stint. There wasn't much for her to do with both children out of the house, leaving only us parents who're busy most of the time and only home late at night. We finally bade farewell when her permit expired and sent her off to the agency. She was a good help who'll be missed.

Din decided to sell all business entities in Kemaman. It was a decision I couldn't agree more. Much as I loved the printing line and being busy, Kemaman was just too far away when both children are in Singapore. So we made the decision to move out of Kemaman, and return to Singapore.

We got a nasty shock upon finding out the current renting rates in Singapore for HDB units was $2,000 for a 4-room flat, similar to what we used to live in. Compare that to the rent in JB - RM1,000 ($480) for a 4-room, double storey terrace house. Utilities and conservancy charges are also much lower this side of the causeway. So minus the inconvenience of taking public transport, (as Singaporeans, we cannot drive our Malaysian registered cars in to Singapore), life is pretty much bearable.

Din was offered a job in Batam by his former colleague. So all four of us were in four places in 3 different countries at any one time. Thank God for technology, we kept in touch by emails and SMSes. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?) Din's stint with the company only lasted for two months.

Finally the highlight for 2010 must be our Hajj pilgrimage. Both of us went with Hahnemann Travel and performed Haji Ifrad lasting 29 days from early November.